Excitation System Basics

Part 1

Field Maintenance Engineers Conference

June 04, 2019

Ravi P. Mutukutti Ph.D., P.Eng.

P & C Design Principal Engineer
BC Hydro

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 1

 Goal…
Goal is to present basic principles of,
Excitation
and
Automatic Voltage Regulation
of
Synchronous Generators

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 2

 Synchronous Generator

Field Voltage (Vf)

-
+

S Slip ring

Brush gear

Field Current (If)

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 3

 What is Exciter
• Exciter is the Rotor DC Field Current supplying device

-
-

Exciter
+

+ S

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 4

 History
 1929 – DC exciters
 1946 – Transductor Regulators
 1964 – Electronic regulators
 1965 – Brushless exciters
 1965 – Analog Static exciters
 1970 – Digital Static exciters

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 5

Source: ABB Generation, Sweden
 Classification of Exciters
• 1. Rotating Exciters

• DC field current is supplied by a

generator
• Number of different configurations;
brushless, shaft driven, motor
driven, Amplidyne, pilot excited,
shunt excited, separately excited…
• 2. Static Exciters

• DC Field current is supplied by a

static devices, rectifying AC.
• Two main configurations; bus fed
and self excited
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 6
 Rotating Exciters - DC Exciters
 High maintenance, many spare parts
PMG
 Many mechanical moving parts
 Many types of brushes DC
M
 More carbon dust
 Slow responding field (rotor)
 Rotor dynamic balancing is difficult
 Commutation problems
 Fire risk

 Note: pilot and main exciter may be motor PMG = pilot exciter
driven DC = main exciter
M = motor operated Rheostat
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 7
 Rotating Exciters –AC (Brushless)
 low maintenance high reliability
PMG
 Many mechanical moving parts
 No brushes, No carbon dust AC
M

 Difficult to measure and control actual field

current
field (rotor)
 Slow responding
 Rotor dynamic balancing is difficult
 May be fed from very small excitation
transformer
 Very small exciter cabinet
PMG = pilot exciter
 Widely used in gas turbines AC = main exciter
M = motor operated Rheostat
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 8
 Static Exciters - DC Exciters
 Less maintenance, many spare
parts
 Fast responding
 Precise control of field current
 No mechanical moving parts
field (rotor)
 One type of brushes
 Less carbon dust
 Large excitation transformer
 Large exciter equipment cabinet
 Power System Stability can be
improved

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 9

 Basic differences between
Static and Rotating Exciters
• 1. Static Exciters

• Voltage control by a controlled AC

rectification
• Fast response (one time constant)
• No moving parts to maintain

• 2. Rotating Exciters

• Voltage control by exciter field

• Slow response (two or more time constants)
• Rotating main / pilot exciter and additional
brush gear to maintain

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 10

 Static Excitation systems - terminology
• Iso-phase bus connection
• Excitation transformer (ET)
• Converter Bridge (Thyristor/SCR bridge)
• Field circuit breaker (FB/ FCB/ 41)
• Slip ring
• Field leads
• Brushes
• Brush gear (ring gear)
• AC bus
• DC bus
• Field Flashing
• Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR)
• De-excitation (DEX)/ Crowbar (CB) module
• Field Discharge Resister (FDR)
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 11
 Static Excitation systems- Excitation
• Field Breaker closes around 95% speed
• Voltage may not buildup in the absence of remnance flux
• Field Flashing supply comes in via FF contactor

~
Voltage

• Once the voltage built-up FF contactor

opens
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti
time 12
 Generator Voltage Regulation
If jIX
I
V
E X
~ I
E ~ V Z
 E = V + jIX
 Voltage drop = jIX
• Phasor diagram when the load is resistive (MW)
E
E
• If MW is increased, more
current will flow jIX jIX
E
jIX
V V
I I I

• Terminal Voltage decreases with increasing MW loading

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 13
 Generator Voltage Regulation
If jIX
I
V
E X
~ I
E ~ V Z
 E = V + jIX
 Voltage drop = jIX
• Phasor diagram when the load is inductive (+MVar)
• If Inductive load is
increased, more current
will flow
E
V

I jIX

• Terminal Voltage decreases with increasing inductive loading

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 14
 Generator Voltage Regulation
If jIX
I
V
E X
~ I
E ~ V Z
 E = V + jIX
 Voltage drop = jIX
• Phasor diagram when the load is capacitive (-MVar)
• If capacitive load is
increased,
I jIX E

V
• Terminal Voltage increases with increasing capacitive loading
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 15
 Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
 Dynamic adjusting of the excitation is necessary to
keep the terminal voltage constant
Historical Way,

If
V
E X
~ I

AVR man Local Operating Order #123

Lower field rheostat if Vt>13.8
Raise field rheostat if Vt<13.8

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 16

 Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
 Dynamic adjusting of the excitation is necessary to
keep the terminal voltage constant
New Way,

Power Amp.
If
V
E X
+
- ~ I
AVR Generator

• Exciter Block Diagram

+ Power
AVR
PID Generator
- Amp.

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 17

 AVR issues
setpoint + AVR
PID
Power
Generator
- Amp.

 1. Connected to the grid with step-up transformer

V Vbus
X Xt
setpoint AVR ~
I

• Vbus will drop with increasing reactive current

• AVR has to compensate for the transformer drop (jIXt)
setpoint +
+ PID
Power
Generator • This is called
+ - Amp.
RCC (LDC)
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 18
jXt
 Reactive Current Compensation (RCC)
V Vbus
X Xt
setpoint AVR ~
I
RCC

Compensated
+ setpoint + Power transfor
PID Generator
+ - Amp. mer

Vars (reactive Current)

jXt

 RCC effectively moves the regulation point away from the

generator terminal
 Amount of compensation determines the regulation point
 +RCC is called “Reactive Drop” compensation
 -RCC is called “Reactive Droop” compensation
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 19
 AVR issues
 2. Multiple generators on the same bus ~
~
 Setpoints / PTs / units are not perfectly identical…
 Individual AVRs are fighting each other
 One AVR drives its out put to the maximum while other
drives to the minimum
 Negative RCC (droop) will stabilize the output by self
adjusting each setpoint
V V

G1 sp grid
G2 sp

Vars (reactive Current) Vars (reactive Current)

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 20

 Excitation Limiters
 Several monitoring
functions available to limit
the excitation to prevent
the generator operating

MVar
outside its desired
operating region
Φ MW

Vt2/Xd
Vt2/Xq

δ
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 21
 VOLTS per Hz (V/f) LIMITER (over flux, HXL)
 V/f limiter prevents high currents owing to low frequency
Tf damage curve
I = V/X
Gen Damage curve
I = V/2πf L Protection curve

V/f
V ~ X= ωL = 2πf L Excitation Limiter

1.05

time

• Reactance is frequency dependant (x = ωL = 2πfL)

• Current increases with decreasing frequency
• V/f ratio has to be kept below TF/Gen damaging level
V/f setpoint + Inv-T
-
V/f

V setpoint +
+ Power
min PID Generator
+ - Amp.

jXt
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 22
 Generator OVER VOLTAGE LIMITER (OVL)
 OVL limits the maximum generator voltage
• Generator Voltage is continuously monitored

OV setpoint + TD
-
V

V/f setpoint + Inv-T

-
V/f
Power
+ min PID Generator
V setpoint + Amp.
+ -

jXt

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 23

 Generator Over Excitation Limiter (OEL)
 OEL limits the maximum Field Current (If)
• Field Current is continuously monitored to prevent field
over heating
If setpoint + Inv-T
-
If

OV setpoint + TD
-
V

V/f setpoint + Inv-T

-
V/f
Power
+ min PID Generator
V setpoint + Amp.
+ -

jXt
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 24
 Generator Under Excitation Limiter (UEL, MEL)
 UEL limits the minimum Field Current (If)
• Field Current is continuously
monitored to prevent Generator

MVar
instability (pole slipping)
• In new digital exciters, UEL is Φ MW

Vt2/Xd
programmed using multiple pairs

Vt2/Xq
of P&Q
• UEL has to be coordinated with
loss of field (40G) protection relay δ
P
Q P,Q
Power
+ min max PID Generator
V setpoint + Amp.
+ -

jXt
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 25
 Summary
 Exciters provide field current to generators
 AVR regulates the generator voltage
 Static exciters are fast responsive
 Rotating exciters are slow responsive
 + RCC is to compensate transformer drop
 - RCC is used when multiple generators
connected to the same bus (droop)
 OEL, HXL, OVL limits the high field current
 UEL (MEL) limits the low field current
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 26
 Key Parameters in specifying
Excitation systems
 Continuous Field Current, If rated
 Short time Field Current rating If max
 Rated Field Voltage, Vf rated
 Ceiling Voltage, Vceiling
 PU Field Voltage, Vpu

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 27

FIELD CHARACTERISTICS 1.0 p.u. Field Voltage @ 75 deg. C
1.0 p.u. Field Current (on air gap line)
Rated Generator Field Current (Vt=1.00 p.u., Rated MVA and PF.)
EXCITER RATINGS Max. continuous exciter current
30 sec. maximum exciter current (note 1)

EXCITATION TRANSFORMER Supply of a new Excitation Transformer

Ceiling Voltage (V DC)
Minimum Field Voltage (Negative) (V DC)
Basic Impulse Level (BIL) in kV
Provided VT Ratio
Provided Generator CT Ratio
Required Excitation Transformer HV CT Ratio
Required Excitation Transformer HV CT Accuracy
Maximum Symmetrical Three-phase Fault Level on HV side of the
Excitation Transformer (A)

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 28

 GENERAL Rated MVA
Rated Speed (RPM)
Runaway Speed (in % of Rated Speed)
Peak speed After Full Load Rejection (approximate)
Stator Voltage (kV)
Rated Power Factor (lagging)
REACTANCE Synchronous Direct-Axis Saturated Xd
Synchronous Direct-Axis Unsaturated Xd
Synchronous Quadrature-Axis Unsaturated Xq
Transient Direct-Axis Unsaturated X'd
Transient Quadrature-Axis Unsaturated X'q
Sub-transient Direct-Axis Unsaturated X"d
Sub-transient Direct-Axis Unsaturated X"q
Negative Sequence
Zero Sequence
S1.0 (Saturation Factor at 1.0 pu)
S1.2 (Saturation Factor at 1.2 pu)
Generator Transformer Impedance
Generator Transformer MVA Base
TIME CONSTANTS Transient Direct-Axis Open Circuit T'd0
(in seconds) Sub - Transient Direct-Axis Open Circuit T"d0
Sub - Transient Quadrature-Axis Open Circuit T"q0
Transient Direct-Axis short-circuit
Armature Short Circuit Ta
RESISTANCE Stator per phase (75 degrees C) PU
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti Field (75 degrees C) 29
 ELECTRICAL GENERAL Field CB Type
Station Service Voltage
Station Service Voltage No. Phases
FIELD FLASHING DC Field Flash Source (Operating Range)
Field Flash Source Transfer (Auto/Manual)
Field Flash Source Transfer Provided by (BC Hydro/Exciter
Manufacturer)
Cable/Bus Entry Transformer HV
Transformer LV
Exciter Panel AC
Exciter Panel Field Leads
Exciter Panel Signal and Power Supply
Delivery Delivery Point
Delivery Date (approximate)

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 30

 IEEE Standards on Excitation Systems

 IEEE 421.1
Standard Definitions for Excitation Systems for Synchronous Machines
 IEEE 421.2
Guide for Identification, Testing, and Evaluation of the Dynamic Performance
of Excitation Control Systems
 IEEE 421.3
Standard for High-Potential Test Requirements for Excitation Systems for
Synchronous Machines
 IEEE 421.4
Guide for the Preparation of Excitation System Specifications
 IEEE 421.5
Recommended Practice for Excitation System Models for Power System
Stability Studies
 IEEE 421.6
Recommended Practice for the Specification and Design of Field Discharge
Equipment for Synchronous Machines
Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 31
 End of Part 1

Questions….?

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 32

 End of Part 1

Thank You
Ravi P. Mutukutti Ph.D., P.Eng.
Principal Engineer (P&C Design)
Generation Engineering
604-528-2649
ravi.mutukutti@bchydro.com

Excitation System Basics (part 1) - Ravi Mutukutti 33